Ladder for railway cars



Feb. 9, 1932. A. CAMPBELL LADDER FOR RAILWAY {PARS filed June 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Qyfiben 1%? ARGVLE CAMPBELL Feb. 9, 1932. CAMPBELL 1,844,202

LADDER FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed June 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 9, 1932. -A. CAMPBELL 1,344,202

LADDER FOR RAILWAY CARS I Filed June 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Qinuenfijfx ARGYLE CAMPBELL M17/7/GSSJ Feb. 9, 1932. CAMPBELL 1,844,202

LADDER FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed June 20, 1928 4 SheetsSheet 4 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 Parent r AneYLn CAMPBELL, or ceramic, ILLINOIS, Ass'IGNoR T ENT RPRISE RAILWAY' EQUIPMENT GGMPANY, or CHICAGO, rL INoIs, e'oonroaarron or ILLINOIS V LADDER rcn RAILWAY cans Application filed June 20,1928. Serial No. 286,859.

are operated, trainmen are often required to.

0 board cars at night-time, when trains are in motion and are often called upon to perform their duties under adverse weather conditions when such hazards as rain, sleet, ice,

snow or intense cold have to be contended with. For the convenience of trainmen, side and end ladders are placed on each diagonal opposite corner of freight cars, the slde ladder being provided with a footstep im-' mediately below the same, and the respective ladders on each-corner of car are placed adjacent to each other for the purpose of permitting trainmen to passfrom the side to the end ladder or vice versa, but in practice such ladders are usually spaced inwardlyfrom the corner of the car thereby making it necessary for a man to reach around the corner of the car and feel for the adjacent ladder, and in so doing he is liable to slip and fall from the car. It is therefore an object of my 0 invention to remedy such deficiencies by an improved ladder structure embodying in a self-contained unit a combined side and end ladder which will obviate the necessity of a train man reaching around the corner of the car to locate the adjacent ladder and which will provide a vertical corner grip member common to both the side and end ladders.

Another object of my invention is to pro-- vide a ladder stile common to both a side and an end ladder and having a side footstep arranged immediately adjacent the said ladder stile.

Another object of my invention is to imall) prove the ladder structure of that class of" cars usuallytermed house or box cars, where.

in side and end horizontal roof hand holds are placed on the roof of the car adjacent thereto. My improvements in this respect contemplate the use of a vertical corner memher common to both the sideand end ladder,

being broken away.

which not only provides a hand gripthroughout the height of the ladders but is extended upwardly beyond the uppermost rungs of said ladders and deflected inwardly towards the roof handholds,for the purpose of bridging the space intermediate .the vertical ladders and roof handholds and for the guidance and assistance of trainmen in passing from or to the top of the car by way of either the side or end ladder. V

Astill further object of my invention is to provide a ladder structure which will project outwardly beyond the end of the car thereby placing the footstep well in advance of the adjacent'journal box of the truck, so that adequate clearance is afforded to permit the journal box lid to be swung upwardly withoutinterference with the 'footstep or ladder parts. a i Y A- specific object of the invention is the provision of a corner stile member which will provide a footstep. at its lowerend, a hand grip at its-upper end and a series of hand grips intermediate said footstep and upper handgrip... a Another specific object of the inventionis adjacent said corner stile member.

My invention further resides in certain other features of construction such as will be more fully pointed outhereinafter and claimed.

For further comprehension of my invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings wherein; I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a box or house car having my improvements'embodied therein, the central portion ofthe car Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the preferred method of securing the ladder rungs .to the corner stile of-the ladder structure, said section being taken on a linecorresponding substantiallytoa line 22ofFigure1. V

. Figure 3 is an end View of the box car shpwnin Figure 1 as viewed fromrightto le t.

the provision of a combined'stilezand corner Figure l is a detail sectional view of the corner of the car illustratlng the ladder structure and taken on a line corresponding substantially to a line H of Figure 3.

a Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the corner of the car, showingthe horizontal roof handholds in relation to the improved ladder structure. v t

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a "hopper dumping car, showingmy improved ladder structure appliedthereto, the central portion of the car being broken away Figure 7 car shown in Figure (S /as viewed-from right to left; and Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the method of securingthe .ladder'stiles and ladder rungs of the embodiment shown lllrFlg'ulB 6, said view being taken on a line corresponding substan :tiallyfto 1a line8-8 of Figure .6.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 150 5 inclusive 'my improvementsaa'efshown as applied to acar of the box or house type. In said drawings the usual average limiting clearance for frelght cars is indlcated by conventional dotted lines '10 and the rails on which the car stands are indicated at '11. Certain parts of the truck are indicated including the axles .12, wheels.

13, journal box 14: and-the journal box lid 15, the latter being also indicated in the open position as shown by dotted lines .16.

Thebodyof the car asshown includes side walls 17, end walls 18, roof l9, longitudinal roof platform 20, transverse roofrplatform- 21, roof handholds '22, push pole pocket 23,

V and hand brake platform .24. v

The improved ladder structure proper in its preferred form includesslde and end vertical stilesas indicated at A and'B respec-- tively, horizontal tla'dder rlungsC and a vertical cornerst'ile member. :1). The ladder stiles A-and B are respectively adapted for application to the side and end of the car and are preferably formed of angle shaped sections each having one flange thereof extending in parallelism with the related car side and the adjacent flange26 extending inwardly towards the car wall, flange'25 of the end stileB being'preferably curved inwardly at its end as indicated at 125 in Figure 3 to prevent catching a mans clothing.

Each ladder rung member O is formed of substantially round rod and is preferably. bent to a :right angular formation to extend around'the corner of the carthereby presenting rung sections 27 and 28 respectively a'daptedto extend along the sideand end of the car. The outer'ends of the rung sections are forged to present flattened portions 29 -wherebyattachment is efiected with flange 25 of the associated stile members A andB byirivets 30' or other suitable means. Each said rung member 0 has its corner portion flattened and forged to present a flat face 31' is an end elevational view of the" tending diagonally cornervvii se between the respective rung sections and adapted to register with the flat faces 31 formed on the asso ciated rungs C and attachment is there made betweeneach said respective rung members and stile by a rivet 33 or other suitable fasten ing means, the rung being preferably disposed on the outer side 'ofthe stile member.

At its lower end the corner stile member is extended downwardly below the level'of the -car"side and is turned backwardly and upwardly upon itself in the form of a stirrup to afford a horizontally extending side footstep and-an inner upwardly and outwardlyextending portion 35 which is flattened as indicated at 86 and there attached to the car side by a plurality of rivets 37 or other suitable fastening means. make the tread portion of the footstep of less length than the ladder rungs and this formation of the lower step, in connection with the advanced position ofthe ladder as a whole beyond the limit of the car side together with the placement of the footstep, in substantially the same'vertical plane as said ladder, af-

fords ample clearance for the journal box I and permits the opening of the journalbox lid to its full extent without fouling the footstep. This construction thus permits the use of a relatively short body overhang between the center of the truck and the end-of the car. V i

At its upper end the combined corner stile and corner grip member is extended upward- 1y beyond the uppermost ladder rung C and deflected inwardly and diagonally above and in spaced relation to the roof, towards the roof 'handholds-thus presenting a hand grip 38 at the upper end of the ladder, said grip section 38 in conjunction with the roof handholds thus providing an unbroken guiding means which extends from the footstep 34to the roof ofthe car. The outer endof the inwardly directed hand grip 38is secured to the car structure above; the roof by a rivet as indicated at 89.

The respective side and end ladder stiles A and B are provided with upper and lower supportingbrackets 40, said bracketsbeing of angular shaped members having one flange ll secured to the car wall and the adjacent flange 42 secured to the inwardly extending flange'ofthe associated stile member. The combinedcorner stile "and grip member D is provided with upper and lower brackets 43,

each-said bracket preferably being of gener- It is preferred to Lil structure from the car walls and provide ample clearance between the ladder rungs and vertical grip sections of the member D for the purpose of ensuring the safety of trainmen. In addition to the supporting brackets applied as heretofore described, it will be noted that the footstep in itself also serves as a bracket which helps to support the corner stile, which furthermore is also suspended at the car and it may then be quickly secured in position.

As is usual in car construction handholds 48 are provided on the ends of the car at the lower portion thereof, the ladders being arranged at diagonally opposite corners of the car. The two remaining corners are furnished with footstep 49 and a handhold 5O bent around the corner of the car to present side and end handhold sections as indicated at 51 and 52 respectively, said handhold being secured to the car structure at its opposite ends as at 53 and intermediately thereof by a bracket 54, the said footstep and handholds, as will be notedfbeing advanced beyondthe end of the car to provide ample clearance for the adjacent ournal box ofthe truck. I

- The embodiment shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 is in all respects similar to the one heretofore described, with the exception that it to an open top car and consequently is not provided with the inwardly extending upper grip section of the corner stile member. In the said drawings the car illustrated is of the hopper dump type havin sloping end floors 110, end walls 111, side walls'112, having an inwardly oflset portion 113 to accommodate the ladder rungs within the planev of the greatest car width. The usual sub-sidesill for this type of car is shown at 114, the end sill at 115, and push pole pocket 116 at the junction of said sills is indicated at 116.

Inasmuch as the ladder structure on the diagonally opposite corners and the footsteps i description heretofore given suffices equally for the construction as applied to an opentop dump car. i

It will be obvious vthat my improved construction will greatly facilitate the work of trainmen in getting on or off cars inasmuch as vertical guide member and grip handle is present adjacent both side and endladders and extends continuously from the foot-step.

to the upper extremity of the la.dder,.andjthe footstep, being formed integrally with the said stile member, is immediately adjacent the common stile thus permitting a trainman to 'move quickly from the step to the end ladder when it is necessary to reach the brake platform. e

its upper end by means of the inturned grip portion 38 and in this manner a stable and By flattening the corner stile at intervals to receive the flattened corn-er bends of the combined rungs, a-very strong and rigid, and at the same time simple construction is afforded. The ladder as a whole is one which may be readily made entirely from stock materials and by the'ut-ilization of a combined ladder I stile and grip member having rung receiving portions therein, it will be obvious that a great measure of standardization between 7 various types of'cars may be obta ned as the stile member provides the necessary vertical spacing for the ladder rungs and provides for the placement of both side and end ladder rungs on a common level,

lVhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred mannerof carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative andI contemplate-all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appendedhereto. f

Iclaim; r V i 1. In combination with a car, a combined side and end ladder comprising flanged side and end stiles outstanding from the respec tive walls of the car,'arod like corner stile forming a vertical handhold outstanding from a a 'h 'rn ft carad ur.' shows the application or my improved ladder V t e er 0 he n a p1 "ahty of Com bined rungs each comprising a side section and an end section in angular relation to one 1 another, the-ends of the side sections being secured to the flange of the side stile and the ends of the end sections being secured to the flange of the end stile, andthe corner stile being provided with flattened portions spaced apart corresponding to the positions of the rungs affording attaching faces for the bends 0f the combined rungs, and attaching means for securing said bends to the corner stile. 1

2. In combination Wltll' a car, a combined side andend ladder comprising side and end stileszoutstanding from the respective walls of the car, a corner stile outstanding from the corneriof the car, and a plurality of combined'rungseach comprising a sidesection and'an end section in angular relation to one another, the ends of the side sections bein secured to the side stile and the ends of the end sections being secured to theend stile,

ing means for securing said bendsto-the'con ner stile, the corner stile. being extended at its lower end and bent rearwardly and. upwardly and attached to the car to afford a 1 foot step.

v 3. In. combination with a car, a'combined side and end ladder comprising side and end stiles outstanding from the respective walls of the car, a corner stile outstanding from the corner of the car, anda pluralityof combined rungs each comprising a side section and an end section in angular relation to one another, the ends of the side sections being secured to the side stile and the ends of the end sections being secured to the-end stile, and thecorner stile being provided with fiattened portions affording attaching faces for the bends of the combined rungs, and attaching means for securing said bends to the corner stile, the corner stile being extended at its upper end to aiford a diagonally extending bracket portion secured to the roof of the car and constituting a hand grip.

4. In combination with a'car, a combined side and end ladder comprising side and end stiles outstanding from the respective walls of the car, a corner stile oustanding from the corner of the car, and a plurality of combined rungs each comprising aside section and an end section in angular relation to one another, the ends of'the side sections being secured to the side stile and the ends of the end sections being secured to the end stile, and the corner stile being provided with flattened portions affording attaching faces for the bends of the combined rungs,' and attaching means for securing said bends to the corner-stile, the corner stile being extended at its upper end to afiord a diagonally extending bracket portion secured to the roof of the car and constituting a hand grip, and the lower end of the corner stile being downwardly extended-below 'the'floor of the car and turned inwardly and upwardly and attached tothe car to afford a footstep.

5. In combination with a car, a combined side and end ladder comprising side and end stiles secured to the side and end walls of the car, a corner stileoutstanding from the corner of the car, and a plurality of'combined side and end rungs of angular formation hav ing their ends secured respectively'to the side 7 and end stiles and having their bends secured to the corner stile, the corner stile being extended at its lower end and bent rearwardly and upwardly and attached to the car to aiford'a foot step 6. In combination wltha car, a combined side and end ladder comprising side and end stiles secured to the side and end walls of the car, a cornerstile outstanding from the corner of the can-and a plurality of combined side and end rungs of angular formation having their ends secured respectively stiles secured to the side and end walls of the car, a corner .stile outstanding. from the corner of the car, and a plurality of com- :bined side and end rungs of angular formationhaidng their bends secured to the corner stile, the corner stile being extended at its upper end to afford a diagonally extending bracket'portion secured to the roof of the car and constituting a handgrip, and the lower end of the corner stile being downwardly extended below the floor of the car and turned. inwardly and upwardly and attached to the car to afford a foot step.

8. As a new article of manufacture for railway cars, a combined side and end ladder having a series of ladder rungs disposed at an angle to each other, and a suppor ing stile common to both series of rungs, said stile at its upper end being angularly deflected inwardly to extend over the roof of the car for attachment thereto to form a hand grip common to both series of rungs.

9. As a new article of manufacture for railway cars, a combined side and end ladder having a series of ladder rungs disposed at an angle to each other, and a supporting stile common to both series of rungs, said stileatit lower end being formed to present a foot step-and at its upper end being angularly deflected inwardly to extend over the car rooffor attachment thereto to form a hand grip common to. both series of rungs.

10. As a new article of manufacture for railway cars, a combined Vertical hand hold and corner stile member, for ladder rungs, said corner member being formed of a sub stantially round rod flattened at spaced intervals to present attaching faces for ladder rungs. I

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of June 1928. 1 V

, CAMPBELL. 

